Alert in Guwahati after reports of ULFA bombers sneaking in

GUWAHATI - A massive security alert was sounded in Assam Wednesday following intelligence reports of at least three bombers of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) sneaking into the state’s main city of Guwahati to carry out serial explosions in public places.

A police spokesperson said the ULFA bombers belonged to the outfit’s 109th battalion and were aiming to trigger violent attacks in the city.

“They could target security forces and even crowded areas like Machkhowa, Ganeshguri, and Fancy Bazar, and we have already deployed security forces in strength to foil any such attacks,” Bibekananda Das, senior superintendent of police (in-charge) of Guwahati city, told journalists.

Local TV channels Wednesday were airing photographs of at least two of the suspected ULFA bombers who could have already entered the city.

“There is no need to panic, but a caution to the public to be vigilant and inform police about any suspicious people or unidentified objects around them,” the police official said.

The ULFA was lying low for the past nearly six months with no major incidents of violence reported.

“We have intensified vigil and road checks in all entry and exit points to the city, besides deploying security personnel in civvies in vulnerable areas to prevent the ULFA bombers from carrying out attacks,” Das said.

The ULFA has been fighting for an independent homeland since 1979.

Interestingly, the entire top brass of the ULFA, barring its elusive commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah is in jail.

The imprisoned leaders include chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, deputy commander-in-chief Raju Baruah, self-styled foreign secretary Sasha Choudhury, finance secretary Chitrabon Hazarika, cultural secretary Pranati Deka, and ULFA political ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain.